Thursday, March 09, 2023

Poetry Friday: Jane Hirshfield's "Mathematics"



Jane Hirshfield asks intriguing questions: 

Does a poem enlarge the world, 
or only our idea of the world? 


Mathematics
by Jane Hirshfield

I have envied those
who make something
useful, sturdy—
a chair, a pair of boots.

Even a soup,
rich with potatoes and cream.

Or those who fix, perhaps,
a leaking window:
strip out the old cracked putty,
lay down cleanly the line of the new.

You could learn,
....


~~~~~~~~~~

Heidi Mordhorst is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup this week 
at My Juicy Little Universe



11 comments:

Denise Krebs said...

Karen, thank you for sharing the poem today. I'm sitting here thinking about this:

"I lied, or did not lie,
in answer."

Linda B said...

I have discussed something that the poem reminds me of and that is the old one of "If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? It always seems to me that the age-old answer, "It depends", depends on one's perception. It's an extraordinary poem, Karen. Thank you!

Patricia Franz said...

I just listened to Ezra Klein's interview with Jane... I had never heard her speak and did not know of her history. It was wonderful to imagine her reading this poem.

Rose Cappelli said...

Thanks for sharing this intriguing poem, Karen. It will certainly contribute to my pondering today.

laurasalas said...

Ooh, a poem to ponder. It's like an Escher drawing in words!

Anonymous said...

The world and the idea of the world. So much to think about in this poem. Thanks for sharing this poem, Karen.

Carol Varsalona said...

I like the choice of Hirshfield's Mathematics poem that you shared. It is certainly full of lines to ponder.

Heidi Mordhorst said...

Oh, it is both, surely! The world becomes and becomes enlarged through our speaking it--how much larger is the creation when a poet has written her versions thereof? Thanks for this one. I own this book and yet it seemed brand new to me!

Karen Edmisten said...

Love all the pondering here! Heidi, I agree it is surely both and Laura, I like your characterization of an Escher drawing in words. Patricia, I enjoy hearing her read as well. Linda, your response reminds me of William Carlos Williams — "so much depends..." :)

Ruth said...

So good! Thank you!

Susan T. said...

Nice one, Karen! Thank you. I'll look for her interview on the podcast, too, which Patricia mentioned. A few summers ago I read one of Jane H.'s books, and this is a good reminder to look for others.